YOUNG WHEAT MOTH CATERPILLARS. 3"9^ 



Beneath these cross markings is a hght longitudinal band, and lower 

 yet, on each segment, three light cross markings on the brown tint. 

 The brown marking only reaches as far down on the side as the little 

 black spiracles. The claw-feet were brown ; the sucker-feet of the 

 light general tint of the body, tipped with darker colour. The much 

 magnified figures of the caterpillars at p. 37 give a fair idea of the 

 disposition and shape of the markings. 



Being very desirous to rear the caterpillars up to fully developed 

 state, I put some of those which I first received towards the end of 

 February, or early in March, on very young shoots of ribbon-grass, 

 and attended to them carefully, and also watched some of those in the 

 Wheat plants, but without satisfactory results, as they died successively 

 by about the end of March. 



Some little information, however, was attainable. So far as 

 appeared from watching the small number of specimens, the reddish- 

 brown markings of the caterpillars deepened in tint with advance of 

 age. It could not be said with advance of growth, for on this point there 

 was very little diflerence, as from date of first observation to finding the 

 last remaining of the specimens sent they had been dead a short time, on 

 the 4th of April. Whether this was wholly from unfavourable circum- 

 stances, or partly from completion of growth, appeared uncertain. 

 The ribbon-grass was to some degree acceptable as food, for in one 

 instance a larva ate out the central part of a ribbon-grass shoot, 

 reducing it to an empty cylinder, slightly spun together with a little 

 web. Some of the caterpillars concealed themselves temporarily in 

 the earth, but none passed on to the chrysalis stage. 



In my great difficulties as to anything like certain identification of 

 the species of the larvse, I submitted specimens, or the figure at 

 heading, together with descriptions, to various lepidopterists, who were 

 good enough to go into the matter, and I think I may say that they 

 mostly agreed in considering the larvre Avere of the genus Miana, but 

 of which species of this genus they were remained uncertain. I am 

 particularly obliged to Mr. John Eobson, and also to Mr. J. Gardner, 

 both of Hartlepool, for kindly taking a deal of trouble in going into 

 the matter, and I am bound to say that neither of these skilled lepi- 

 dopterists, who are well acquainted with the larvae of M. expolita (for 

 various reasons unnecessary to go into fully here), considered it likely 

 the caterpillars should be of this species, but rather one of the other 

 species of the genus Miana. Of course in naming merely from larvre, 

 and still more from description, there are difficulties in specific 

 identification, but from the considerations most obligingly sent me, 

 I just give the remark by Mr. J. Gardner, — "From date and size 

 of larvffi, most probably that of Miana strujilis or fasciuncida " ; and 

 that by Mr. John Eobson, — "Leaving all other considerations, and 



